Technical Buyer

Application Deadline Dec 13, 2024

Role Overview:

As a Technical Buyer, you will be a critical link between our organization and our suppliers. You will focus on sourcing and procuring high-quality materials and components, ensuring they meet our rigorous technical specifications and cost requirements. Your ability to negotiate favorable terms, manage supplier relationships, and optimize procurement processes will be essential to our operational success. You will play a key role in driving cost savings, improving supply chain efficiency, and supporting our overall business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Manage the buying process for all goods and services in line with specified cost, quality, and delivery targets.
Provide technical/commercial assistance to Commodity Buyers to develop an awareness of manufacturing processes and improve product knowledge.
Apply sourcing policy, interface foundation of function skills, and knowledge of relevant purchasing and sourcing concepts.
Develop and maintain a strong foundation of function skills and knowledge of relevant purchasing and sourcing concepts.
Manage problems and schedule changes and ensure changes are reflected within the ERP systems.
Balance both tactical executions with strategic initiatives necessary to drive cost reduction projects.
Actively participate in supplier performance reviews.
Ensure a continuous supply of required goods and materials and communicate any supply problems which may pose a risk or impact on business operations.
Monitor market trends, competitor strategies, and market suppliers.
Research and evaluate areas of opportunity and reduce costs where possible.
Deliver briefs, updates, and reports as and when required.
Develop ideas and strategies to improve operational efficiency, add value, aid business performance, and work towards a strategy of continuous improvement.
Negotiate contracts improved prices, and terms of business with suppliers and review opportunities to make business savings utilizing negotiation and procurement best practice tools and methods.
Assess and evaluate suppliers and undertake performance reviews to ensure contract compliance and manage performance improvement activities.
Ensure that a professional and consistent approach is taken in relation to all supplier relationships.
Ensure compliance with company guidelines, purchasing policies and procedures, and the Official Journal of the European Community (OJEU) guidance during supplier negotiations and contracts award process.
Explore alternate sources for goods and materials.
Assess tenders and quotations from potentials suppliers

Qualifications:

Relevant business/commercial or manufacturing/engineering degree is preferred, HNC, City & Guilds Licentiateship, B. Tec Higher Professional Diploma, or equivalent NVQ Level 4 qualifications.
Membership of Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
Proven purchasing experience, preferably within an automotive or manufacturing environment
Ability to add value, reduce costs and make business improvements
Contract management and supplier experience
Project management experience
Strong technical knowledge and understanding of automotive processes and components and supply chain management
Computer literate, to include advanced Excel skills
Highly skilled at building and maintaining effective and productive relationships with key stakeholders and suppliers
Strong negotiation, communication, interpersonal and influencing skills
Analytical, numerically astute with strong proven problem identification and solution abilities
Results orientated with the ability to plan and deliver against project deadlines
Commercially and financially aware
Keen attention to detail and accuracy
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to influence others and lead small teams.
Ability to coordinate several projects simultaneously.
Strong mastery of a body of theoretical knowledge.
A developed and strong foundation of function skills and knowledge of relevant purchasing and sourcing concepts.